Refuse-furnace.



No. 667,0l3. Patented lan. 29, lam. w. s. HULL.

REFUSE FURNACE.

(Application led July 10, 1900.) Y

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WWA/5555s Nita@ TATES PATENT FFI'CE.

WILLIAM HULL, OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI.

REFUSE-FURNAC E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,013, dated January29, 1901.

Application filed July 10. 1900.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. HULL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Jackson, in the county of Hinds, State of Mississippi, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Refuse-Furnaces, ofwhich the following is a specication, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a refuse-furnace, and particularly to anincinerating-furnace adapted for the consumption of garbage, night-soil,dead animals, or any other refuse.

The invention has for one object to provide an apparatus embodying aseries of parallel grate-bars disposed upon diiferent planes inconnection with a flue and means by which the odors and gases passingfrom the material consumed upon the bars will be properly ignited andconsumed before their passage to the outlet of the furnace.

A further object of the invention is to pro- Vide an improved form ofbar by means of which the most advantageous consumption of the refusemay be efected.

A further object of the invention is to provide means by which theproducts of combustion from each of the grate-bars will be passed orcarried adjacent to a source of heat, by which the gases therein may beignited and the odors thus efectually destroyed.

In the drawings, Figure l represents aperspective of the furnace withportions broken away and in section. Fig. 2- is a horizontalcross-section of the furnace beneath the gratebars. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection thereof on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a detailperspective of the preferred form of grate-bar.

Like letters of referenceindicate like parts throughout the severalgures ofthe drawings.

In the drawings the letter A designates the walls or proper masonrycomposing the furnace, which may be of any desired length and generalconstruction customary in this character of devices. It is provided atone end with a stack A', from which the remaining products ofcombustion, after treatment in the apparatus, and the heat emittedtherefrom are discharged. The upper portion of the incinerator orfurnace is provided with a Serial No. 23,114. (No model.)

the furnace, suitably closed by doors A4, and

upon a lower plane or level a secondary set of grate-bars C is disposed,so that when the material resting upon the bars B is moved thereon orpushed forward thereon it will fall upon the lower set of bars C, fromwhich the ashes may be removed by means of a series of openings A5through the walls of the furnace, which are normally closed by means ofsuitable doors A6.V At one end of the gratebars B a re-box D isprovided, preferably at the end where the stack is located and whichwill be hereinafter termed the front of the furnace, While at theopposite end of the gratebars B a similar grate E is provided.Coinmunication may be had with the grat-e D through the opening D anddoor D2, while similar communication may be had with the grate E bymeans of the opening E and the door E2. Beneath the series of grate-barsB a return flue or tunnel F extends, which communicates at one end, bymeans of a throat F', with the grate E and at the opposite end with asmoke-stack A. At the front end of the lower grate-bars C a grate G isprovided, which lies parallel with the grate D and upon a lower plane,While communication may be had with this grate by means of the passageGr' and door G2. .Beneath the grate-bars C a tunnel or flue H isprovided, which communicates at the-rear end adjacent to the grate Ewith the flue F by means of an opening H' in the partition-wall H2,which separates the flues F and H from each other.

It will be understood that the several grates hereinbefore referred toare provided with the usual ash-boxes and draft devices customary inthis art.

While this furnace or incinerator may be operated in connection with anysuitable form of grate-bar, still I have provided in the presentinvention a desirable form for accomplishing the objects of completecombustion and effecting an oxidation of the refuse. The form of barshown in Fig. l is IOO provided with inclined walls and is substantiallyV-shaped in form. Thisy bar is perforated at suitable points topermitthe passage yof air therethrough;y but I have illustrated in Fig.4 a very desirable. formrof suchr a bar which may be formed of asuitable refractory material', such as rlire-clay or metal, in which thebar I is providedwith inclined sidewalls' perforated, as at I3, and theopenings therein l and a base l2, extending at opposite sides beyondsaid Walls.y Each of the side walls is bevel inwardly, while the channelI4 within the center of the bar communicates with the air-space beneaththe bar by meansof a series of openings l5. are also provided with aseries'of channelsor corrugations I, which permit the passage of airupward between the separate bars of the series and alongthecorrugations, sofas to supply the necessary oxygenrto the upper portionof the mass of refuse which may rest upon the sidesof the bars.

While the gases or products ofcombustion from garbage consumed upon thegrate-bars `B and C would ordinarily be thoroughly consinned by the heatfrom the kfire upon the grate'E, still if the character of material tobe burned be such that there is an unusual sumed. This additional grateis not essen amount of obnoxious gas an additional grate J,'as showninFig, 2, isprovidedin the flue which will imite and consume any gaseswhich may have passedr through theother ireswithout beingproperlyignited and con tial, however, and may be omitted if desired.

Vhile I have described the several grates as adapted to contain theusual form of fires, still it will be obvious that any suitable burnersor heating devices-such, for instance, as gas or oil-may be provided andsubstituted therefor, as they would accomplish a similar result.

In the operation of this furnace a fire is first built upon the grate E,which causes a draft through the fiue F toward the stack A'. A lire isnext started upon the front gratos D and G, from which the products ofcombustion are carried longitudinally of the series of grate-bars andthose fromthe grate D in connection with the gases evolved in the consumption of the refuse carried over the grate E, so as to be ignited andconsumed by the heat therefrom, and through the due F to the stack,Where the remaining products are discharged. The products from the grateG pass longitudinally of the grate-bars C and are then introduced intothe flue F, where they will be ignited by the flame from the grate E.This combustion-liuc therefore receives the gases from each of the uppergrates and provides means by which they may be thoroughly consumed. Aproper admission of air to this flue may be eected by anysuitabledoors-for instance, the tire-door to the grate E-to supply the necessaryoxygen for ythe passage yof heated air from the [lues beneath the gratesupward through the apera from the base of the furnace, and the lateralThe sides and base of the bar thus relieving the Wall of the furnacefromy combustion, so that bythe time thegases i reach the stack allobnoxious odors have been destroyed. Itrwill alsoy be'obvious that thestructureof grate herein describedk permits tures and into the refuse,thus Lcausing ad thorough oxidation of the material to be consumed. Itwill alsobe observed that in the present construction the grates aresupported upon suitable walls extending upward thrust from an archedbrick grat-eis thereby prevented, asis also the internal strain upon theoutside walls, caused by the sagging of metal bars from the heat andload thereon.` It will be seen that the bai-SB rest at one end uponasuitable flange H3, extending from the rWall of the furnace, and thattheir opposite ends rest upon the upper portion ofthe partition H2,while thegrate-bars C are supported r upon rests l-Ii at the oppositeends of the bars,

all strain incident to the support of the bars, which are entirelyindependent of the outside walls. This produces an extended life to thefurnace and prevents any injury to the maink portionr thereofy by theshrinkage or bending of the bars, While it also permits the replacementor ready removal of the bars, as may be found"necessary.y Itis alsofound desirable to pass the main products of combustion over the refusewhich rests upon the bars and to obviate the lires rwhich have rbeen,heretofore built beneath the bars andwhich `are more destructive to thebars than to the refuse. The present invention con templates apassage ofthe products of combustion from the gratos over the surface of thematerial to be consumed, which maybe agitated as desired, and afterremaining upon the upper set of bars for the desired time will be passedonward to the lower bars, where a final consumption of the refuse may beeffected. This operation, in connection with the combustion-flue for theconsumption of the gases and the structure of grate-bar, by means ofwhich the material is thoroughly aerated and the necessary oxygensupplied to permit combustion, produces a furnace in which refuse may beincinerated at the minimum expenditure of fuel and Within the shortesttime possible consistent With an economical and eliicient operation,which is necessary in this art. It will be obvious that the heat withinthe combustion-flue will pass upward through the perforations in thebars and along the corrugations thereof to the mass of refuse above,thus quickly drying the lower portion and presenting the same in acondition by which combustion is more quickly effected when the samecomes in contact with a flame. It may be stated that the openings A2 aredirectly above the upper set of bars, and as the surface of the refusethereon is dried or burned the same will be removed or raked IOO IIO

onto the lower bars and there completely consumed, while a new surfaceis presented for combustion and drying upon the upper bars.

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the details ofconstruction and configuration of the several parts without departingfrom the spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In a refuse-burning furnace, the combination of two parallel gratesone situated above the other, the upper grate arranged to receive thegreen refuse and the lower grate arranged to receive the dry refuse fromthe upper grate, a fire-box adjacent to one end of each grate, and areturn-flue leading from the opposite end of the grates beneath one ofthe same to the exit of the furnace; substantially as specified.

2. In a refuse-burning furnace, the combination of two parallel gratesone situated above the other, the upper grate arranged to receive thegreen refuse and the lower grate arranged to receive the dry refuse fromlthe upper grate, a fire-box adjacent to one end of each grate, areturn-line leading from the opposite end of the grates beneath one ofthe same to the exit of the furnace, and a fire-box interposed in thereturnflue between the grates and furnace -eXit; substantially asspecified.

3. In a refuse-burner, the combination of two parallel grates onesituated above the other, the upper grate to receive the green refuseand the lower grate arranged to receive the dried refuse from the uppergrate, two fire-boxes at one end of thejfurnace, one adjacent to eachgrate,and a return-liuc leading from the other end of the grates beneaththe upper grate to the exit ot' the furnace; substantially as specified.

et. In a refuse-furnace, the combination of two parallel grates indifferent vertical plan es one situated above the other, the upper gratearranged to receive the green refuse and the lower grate to receive thedried refuse from the upper grate, a fire-box at each end of the uppergrate, a return-flue leading beneath said upper grate, a fire-box at oneend of the lower grate, and a stack communicating with said return-flue; substantially as specified.

5. In a refuse-furnace, the combination of two parallel grates indifferent vertical planes one situated above the other, the upper gratearranged to receive the green refuse and the lower grate to receive thedried refuse from the upper grate, a lire-box at each end of the uppergrate,a return-Hue leading beneath said upper grate, a lire-box at oneend of the lower grate, a stack communicating with said return-line, andmeans permitting communication between the return-flue and the spaceabove said lower grate; substantially as specitied.

6. In a refuse-burning furnace, the combination of two parallel gratesperforated in different vertical planes one situated above the other,the upper grate arranged to receive the green refuse and the lower grateto receive the dried refuse from the upper grate, fireboXes at the frontend of each grate, a returnflue beneath said upper grate, a fire-box atthe rear end of said upper grate, at the entrance to said flue, and astack communicating with said line at the opposite end from the tire-boxat its entrance; substantially as specified.

7. In a refuse-burning furnace, the combination of two parallelperforated grates in different vertical planes one situated above theother, the upper grate arranged to receive the green refuse and thelower grate to receive the dried refuse from the upper grate, tireboXesat the front end ot each grate, a returnue beneath said upper grate, afire-box at the rear end of said upper grate, a stack at the front endof said upper grate communieating with said return-flue; and a fluebeneath said lower grate communicating with said return-flue at the rearthereof; substantially as specified.

8. In a refuse-burning furnace, the combination with a casing, of twoparallel perforated grates one situated above the other, the upper gratearranged to receive green refuse and the lower grate to receive thedried refuse from the upper grate, a return-line beneath the uppergrate, two lire-boxes at one end of the furnace one adjacent to eachgrate, a fireboX interposed in the return-flue between the grates andthe furnace-exit, apertures in the top of said casing above said uppergrate, and openings in the side walls of said casing adapted to permitaccess to the surface of each series of bars; substantially asspecified.

9. In a refuse-burning furnace, lthe combination with a casing, of twoparallel perforated grates one situated above the other, the upper gratearranged to receive green refuse and the lower grate to receive thedried refuse from the upper grate, a return-flue beneath the uppergrate, two fire-boxes at one end of the furnace one adjacent to eachgrate, a firebox interposed in the return-flue between the grates andthe furnace-exit, apertures in the top of said casing above said uppergrate, openings in the side walls of said casing adapted to permitaccess to the surface of each series of bars, and a central bridge-wallor partition extending longitudinally of said grates and provided withan aperture to permit communication with said return-flue; substantiallyas specified.

l0. In a refuse-burning furnace, the combination with a casing, of twoparallel grates situated one above the other, the upper grate arrangedto receive green refuse and the lower grate to receive the dried refusefrom the upper grate, a central bridge-wall or partition for supportingat different elevations the adjacent ends of said grates, two re-boxesat one end of the furnace one above the other IOO IIO

and each communicating with one grate, a re In testimony whereof I affixmy signature turn-flue beneath said upper grate, a fire-box in presenceof two witnesses.

1 t d W i u fr oeaie belo sa d ppel C,rate at one end WILLIAM S HULL.

thereof and directly at the entrance to said 5 return-flue, and meansfor introducing green Witnesses:

refuse upon the surface of said upper grate, W. M. ANDERSON,Substantially as Specified. AMOS R. JOHNSTON.

